The Poetic Edda on Rig
The > Volume I > Notes
attestation: In the Rigsthula, a fourteenth-century annotator identifies Rig with Heimdall, though the poem's Rig more closely resembles Odin
"in the Rigsthula, wherein a certain Rig appears as the ancestor of the three great classes of men, a fourteenth century annotator identifies Rig with Heimdall, on what authority we do not know, for the Rig of the poem seems much more like Othin"
attestation: The annotator's identification of Rig as Heimdall is likely wrong; Rig fits Odin much better based on references to runes and the epithet 'aged and wise'
"everything in the Rigsthula, including the phrase "the aged and wise" in stanza 1, and the references to runes in stanzas 36, 44, and 46, fits Othin exceedingly well. It seems probable that the annotator was wrong, and that Rig is Othin, and not Heimdall"
attestation: Rig is almost certainly based on the Old Irish word for 'king' ('ri' or 'rig')
"Rig: almost certainly based on the Old Irish word for "king," "ri" or "rig.""
attestation: The Rigsthula describes the divine origin of the three social classes: slaves, freemen, and nobles
"the identification of Rig as Heimdall, the watchman of the gods, beyond a few rather vague passages in the other poems"
attestation: Rig gave his own name to Jarl, recognizing him as a potential king, and the rune-teaching fits Odin better than Heimdall
"The exact significance of Rig's giving his own name to Jarl (cf. stanza 46), and thus recognizing him, potentially at least, as a king, depends on the conditions under which the poem was composed"
attestation: According to the Skjoldungasaga, Rig married the daughter of Danp and their son Dan gave his name to the Danes
""Rig (Rigus) was a man not the least among the great ones of his time. He married the daughter of a certain Danp, lord of Danpsted, whose name was Dana; and later, having won the royal title for his province, left as his heir his son by Dana, called Dan or Danum, all of whose subjects were called Danes.""
The > Volume I > Introductory Note
attestation: Rig is characterized by wisdom in the verse.
"1. Men say there went | by ways so green Of old the god, | the aged and wise, Mighty and strong | did Rig go striding. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . ."
attestation: Rig is characterized by strength in the verse.
"1. Men say there went | by ways so green Of old the god, | the aged and wise, Mighty and strong | did Rig go striding. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . ."
attestation: Rig is characterized by power in the verse.
"1. Men say there went | by ways so green Of old the god, | the aged and wise, Mighty and strong | did Rig go striding. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . ."
attestation: Rig is characterized by age in the verse.
"1. Men say there went | by ways so green Of old the god, | the aged and wise, Mighty and strong | did Rig go striding. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . ."
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Rig.
"5. Rig knew well | wise words to speak, Thence did he rise, | made ready to sleep; Soon in the bed | himself did he lay, And on either side | the others were."
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Rig.
"14. Forward went Rig, | his road was straight, To a hall he came, | and a door there hung; In did he fare, | on the floor was a fire: Afi and Amma | owned the house."
attestation: Rig is characterized by wisdom in the verse.
"17. Rig knew well | wise words to speak, Soon in the midst | of the room he sat, And on either side | the others were."
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Rig.
"19. Rig knew well | wise words to speak, He rose from the board, | made ready to sleep; Soon in the bed | himself did he lay, And on either side | the others were."
attestation: The stanza describes travel or movement involving Rig.
"26. Thence went Rig, | his road was straight, A hall he saw, | the doors faced south; The portal stood wide, | on the posts was a ring, Then in he fared; | the floor was strewn."
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Rig.
"26. Thence went Rig, | his road was straight, A hall he saw, | the doors faced south; The portal stood wide, | on the posts was a ring, Then in he fared; | the floor was strewn."
attestation: Rig is characterized by wisdom in the verse.
"29. Rig knew well | wise words to speak, Soon in the midst | of the room he sat, And on either side | the others were."
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Rig.
"32. Rig knew well | wise words to speak, Soon did he rise, | made ready to sleep; So in the bed | himself did he lay, And on either side | the others were."
attestation: The stanza references magical arts or runes in connection with Rig.
"36. Straight from the grove | came striding Rig, Rig came striding, | and runes he taught him; By his name he called him, | as son he claimed him, And bade him hold | his heritage wide,"
attestation: Rig is characterized by greatness in the verse.
"46. With Rig-Jarl soon | the runes he shared, More crafty he was, | and greater his wisdom; The right he sought, | and soon he won it, Rig to be called, | and runes to know."
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Pronouncing Index
- attestation: Rig is possibly identified with Heimdall
"Rīg, Heimdall (?)"